CARA MIA - THEODORE NOTT

bruised knuckles

It's been four months since my father died. I still choke on my words whenever I try to speak about him. The last conversation we had is forever playing in the back of my mind along with every memory spent with him. He wasn't an ordinary wizard father, he read me bed time stories, sang to me, put me first, and never let his business involve me.

Somehow, my mother remarried almost immediately after his death as if the past 20 years meant nothing to her. With this, slowly everything that reminded her of father was gone. My childhood home in Rome, gone. The Italian School of Witchcraft and Wizardry which he dreamed of me going to, gone. Although, this was gone a bit before father died and I could see the sadness grow in his face when mother made the decision.

I never wanted to move but I was told it was a fresh start and offered the best education. To be fair, everyone I met was amazing, the professors could teach and the classes were widespread. I had grown close to all of the Slytherins but after these months I didn't answer many of their calls or texts. Trust me, I wanted to, but I just couldn't.

Today is the first day back of the new term and I am being forced back to Hogwarts. I have Pansy with me but it is still so scary. Everyone is going to walk around me on egg shells and that is the last thing I want. A bunch of I am so sorry for your losses, and hope you are feeling betters.

Daphne is the only person who I majorly kept in contact with. We grew extremely close in the five months I attended Hogwarts which continued during the two months of school I missed and the two months of Easter Break we had off.

"They are all so excited to see you." Pansy sits down on my bed. For a step sister, she is exactly like family to me.

"I just don't want a pity party when I arrive."

"It will be far from that. You know how the boys are." It's true. The boys can make any slightly sad topic into something fun. Hungover? Let's all take a trip to the Blake Lake and swim. Tired? Have some coffee we are playing quidditch. Struggling in school? They have all mastered a different subject each. Unless they are grumpy then we all have to fall victim to their moaning and groaning.

I smile at my sister and jump off my bed to take our suitcases down to the car. Most of us don't catch the train anymore, we find our own way.

We say our goodbyes to my mother and her father and then we are on our way. I can't shake the nervousness of seeing everyone again, and I know Pansy can tell from the excessive amount of times I have cracked my knuckles on this trip.

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A couple hours have gone by with a nap or two and we arrive at enormous school. The train arrived a while ago but there are still first years wondering around trying to find their way through the castle.

"Dorms have changed," Pansy tells me, "boys are now on the left wing and we are on the right."

"You're joking." Beforehand we had the boys in a room across from us which was so good. But, I guess too many parties and hookups led to this decision.

Our bags are left to the house elves to take care of and we walk towards the Slytherin dorm. Pansy and I are kind of late so I assume everyone is going to be there already. As the snakes slither aside and the door opens the common room is filled with people from all years but no familiar faces. Daphne would be upstairs in the dorm picking the nicest bed and setting up the bathroom with all her needs so thats the first place I go.

I can hear her music playing from outside the room.

"Daphne?" I call out.

"Oh my fucking god, Jade!" She runs at me and practically jumps into my arms. The rose scented shampoo she uses lingers in her hair and I can feel every fibre in me relax. She is exactly how I left her.